AAAR 37th Annual Conference October 14 - October 18, 2019 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
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Lucy Nandy, Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar, Assistant Professor in Chemical/Mechanical/Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Atmospheric Sciences
LUCY NANDY, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Abstract Number: 783 Working Group: Meet the Job Seekers
Abstract My research projects over the last decade have been a combination of aerosol science, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat-mass transfer. Currently, I study the effect of organics on particle growth by water uptake, as aerosol size distribution has impacts on atmospheric multiphase chemistry, optical properties and human-health. Current models such as PartMC-MOSAIC do not consider actual activity coefficient of organics in predicting droplet growth, yet they are important in sub-saturated conditions and cloud formation.
As a PhD student at the University of Minnesota, I advanced the perspective of particulate suspensions and multiphase phenomena, and their relevance to climate impacts. My efforts using thermodynamic modeling and droplet microfluidic experiments provided enhanced understanding of aerosol phase, gas-to-particle partitioning, and liquid-liquid morphologies. Collaboration with various research groups has aided me to find applications in finding pH and hygroscopicity of individual particles and studying morphology of real aerosol samples. Prior to doctoral studies, I have worked on industrial projects that required a heat transfer model for dynamic secondary cooling control in steel-slabs, and a mixing-model for alloy dissolution in gas-stirred steel ladle for complete homogenization. During my masters, I have worked on development of microchannel assisted cooling devices that involved image-analyzing interferometry, and on numerical simulation of evaporative processes using CFD.
My future research program will continue to develop new analytical methods with a primary focus on water, as well as mentor students with having the ability to understand science and engineering problems. My vision of developing a coherent research program merging all the skills gained from my research training will have enhanced understanding of water content in complex aqueous environments such as atmospheric aerosols. To move forward, I will be available for a faculty position next academic year, 2020, in Chemical/Mechanical/Civil and Environmental engineering, and Atmospheric sciences any location in the United States.